Study the medical peer review process in hospitals and other health care entities in this state. The study shall include an examination of:
(1) the use of medical peer review in identifying and reporting to the Texas Medical Board the conduct of or the quality of care provided by physicians who are members of the medical staffs of hospitals and other health care entities;
(2) the use of medical peer review in disciplining a physician based on the conduct or quality of care provided by the physician as a member of the medical staff of a hospital or other health care entity;
(3) the appropriate level of immunity protections for hospitals and other health care entities, medical peer review committees, and individuals who participate on those committees in health care liability claims brought by patients alleging bad faith physician credentialing; and
(4) whether there are adequate mechanisms in state law to ensure appropriate regulatory supervision of the appropriateness and effectiveness of medical peer review in hospitals and other health care entities.

2.

As part of the joint interim committee's study, the committee shall investigate:
(1) the adequacy of the Texas Medical Board's oversight and investigation of physician claims that the medical peer review process is misused, including whether the board's oversight and investigation powers should be strengthened and how other states investigate claims of misuse of the medical peer review process;
(2) the state regulatory reporting mechanisms relating to the appropriateness and effectiveness of medical peer review in hospitals and other health care entities and the oversight and authority of the state to ensure good faith medical peer review in hospitals and other health care entities in this state;
(3) the potentially negative impact on medical peer review in this state that could result from potential changes to:
(A) immunity protections; or
(B) the oversight and investigation of physician claims of misuse of the medical peer review process;
(4) how the laws of other states address immunity protections for medical peer review; and
(5) any other matter relevant to the medical peer review process, including how state and federal law identifies physician conduct that is considered to be unprofessional or unsafe by a medical peer review committee.

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